had been mauling

• past perfect progressive

  past perfect progressive

  Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.

  of maul.
  maul

  noun

  a heavy hammer, as for driving stakes or wedges.

Related Words

• beat up
• bludgeon
• drub
• lacerate
• molest
• mug
• pummel
• rough up
• thrash
• trample